Chronicles Of The Crafting Hero

Tyler looked at the system panel, the image of the recipes still fresh in his mind. *I almost forgot about it, what took so long?* He mentally dismissed the thought, the panel disappearing as quickly as it had arrived. With a sigh, he began to walk forward, his pace deliberate. *Another recipe on the list, huh? I am gonna spend the rest of the day at Hector's shop today. And craft so many things. I've got a lot of materials.* A genuine smile then appeared on his face, a spark of anticipation lighting his features. *Plus I've got a lot of enhancement stones. Once the items are crafted, I'll enhance with the enhancement stones.* He wondered, *I wonder how many times I can enhance an item?* The question spurred him on, and his pace quickened, transforming into a brisk march. *I guess I'll find out,* he thought, and the march transitioned into a run.

He ran across the open landscape, following the well-worn carriage trail that led back to the town, the wind now whipping through his hair, his speed now exceeding a normal vehicle. "That speed boost really helped," Tyler thought, his breath coming in even, controlled gasps. *I remember I used to run like this when I was giving my all. But now I am not really running at full speed. I still feel a bit tired. Who knew using a skill like that could take a huge toll on my body?* Thoughts of crafting and selling, the possibilities that lay ahead, swirled in Tyler's mind as he ran, the landscape blurring around him. He eventually reached Veridia, the familiar sight of the town's sturdy walls a welcome sight. Standing at the gates, he paused, sighing in relief and exhaustion, supporting himself by holding his waist. He then entered the gates of Veridia, the bustling activity of the town immediately enveloping him. He quickly navigated the area, passing the waiting wagons and the bustling traffic as he walked towards the market place, the sounds of the town a familiar symphony. As he moved through the marketplace, multiple street vendors called out to him, their voices eager, their wares on display.

The enticing aromas emanating from the street vendors, a symphony of spices and savory delights, caused Tyler's stomach to rumble with a sudden pang of hunger. The realization struck him – he had not eaten anything since yesterday, since his return from the Monster Zone. His focus on his goals had caused him to neglect a basic need.

As he surveyed the marketplace, his attention was drawn to a vendor. The vendor was a man with a clothes wrapped around his head, obscuring his features, and he was calling out his products with practiced ease. Tyler, drawn by a faint, pleasant smell wafting from the man's stall, turned and walked towards him, the aroma growing stronger with each step.

The slim man, wearing a long robe-like garment, his movements swift and efficient, noticed Tyler approaching. Thick, gray strands of hair peeked out from under the cloth wrapped around his head. Tyler's C-rank black pendant, discreetly placed, was now visible outside of his armor, and gleamed brightly in the morning sunlight. "Good morning, my good sir," the man said, his voice warm and welcoming. "Would you like me to serve you a dish?" he asked, already reaching for a spoon. "It's only 5 copper," the man added, his gaze meeting Tyler's.

Tyler, his hunger now a driving force, responded, "Yes, I would like some, please."

"Okay, one plate coming up!" the man declared with a cheerful tone. Tyler watched as the man opened various pots, his movements precise and practiced, and expertly served a portion of a steaming dish. It appeared to be a generous serving of meat and something that resembled mashed potatoes. The aroma intensified, promising a satisfying meal. The man then extended his hand, his palm open to receive the payment. Tyler, his hand already reaching into his pocket, retrieved five copper coins and gave it to the man. The food and the coins exchanged hands in a smooth transaction. Tyler, then looked at the appetizing food, the sight alone was enough to increase his hunger. *Do I eat it here?* he thought, his mind already racing. *I assume he's going to want his plate back.*

The man, the copper coins now safely in his possession, smiled and gestured toward a simple wooden chair, saying, "Please sit down, sir."

Tyler took the seat, a small act of hospitality, and thought, *This is pretty weird. Everybody's just passing by, seeing me eat here. He should have put a table for his customers or something.* The lack of a proper table, the open display of eating, struck him as a bit odd, a stark contrast to the usual market vendors.

Tyler received the spoon from the man and began to eat. He was immediately surprised by the taste. The meat, soft and tender, was undeniably reminiscent of cow meat, a flavor both familiar and satisfying. He then sampled the white substance, a smooth, creamy texture that he had never encountered before. It had a subtle salinity and a faint, yet distinct, hint of onion and broccoli, a combination that intrigued his palate. He devoured the entire plate with relish, the flavors invigorating him.

Once he was finished, he returned the empty plate to the man, offering a sincere "Thank you." He then turned and continued his journey, navigating the throng of people and making his way toward Hector's shop, the destination of his plans. He arrived at the familiar shop, the sight of it filling him with a sense of comfort and anticipation. He entered the shop and was surprised to find no one at the counter. However, he could hear voices coming from the backroom, a clear indication of activity. He moved toward the sounds, entering the crafting room. There, he found Emily standing, her gaze fixed upon Hector, who was intently focused on his craft. Hector seemed to be in the middle of speaking as Tyler walked in. Emily, at what Hector was saying, laughed a little, both of them unaware of Tyler's arrival.

Hector looked up, his focus shifting from the blade he was cleaning to Emily. He saw Tyler and said, "Oh, Tyler, you've returned."

Emily turned to look at Tyler, a bit surprised. "Oh, Good morning," she said, her voice light and friendly.

Tyler smiled and replied, "Good morning. Yeah, I've come back with more materials. How's the job going?"

Emily answered with enthusiasm, "It's going great so far. We've sold all the shields again. Lots of Hunters wanted to buy the shield."

Hector spoke up, his expression pleased. "Yeah, thanks to you, my shop's reputation is spreading pretty fast. I've even made some shields trying to mimic yours. They sold as well."

Tyler was surprised to hear Hector's words, his eyebrows arching slightly. "Wait, you sold them all? All three of them?" The words held a note of genuine surprise and satisfaction.

Emily, her face alight with a pleased smile, confirmed, "Yes, they all sold!"

Tyler responded, his voice filled with enthusiasm, "Well, that is great! I was actually planning on making more of them. And Hector, you said you created ones just like them and sold as well?"

Hector, his hands busy wiping down the metal, replied, "Yes, of course! Although they didn't sell as much as yours. I lowered the price because I thought it would be fair. Plus, they're not as good as yours, because, you see, I didn't use any Hexhorn horns as the material for the spikes." The pride of his craftsmanship was evident in his tone.

Tyler then inquired, "Oh, how much did you sell them for?"

Hector answered, "I sold them for 7 gold." The smith's gaze met Tyler's.

Tyler scratched his chin, a thoughtful gesture, as he mentally calculated the value. *7 gold?* he thought. *That's about as much as he gives me when he takes the 30%, oh, that's not bad. That's still a lot of gold.* Then, speaking out loud, "That's not a bad price."

Hector said, "I know," as he finished cleaning the sword he held, the blade gleaming in the soft light. He then looked at Emily, and said, "Oh, Emily, why don't you go get Tyler his gold? Since the offensive shields sold for 11 gold this time, that means you're taking 8 gold this time, huh?"

Tyler then said, "Yeah, I guess."

Emily then said, "Oh, all right," as her gaze met Tyler's, and she gracefully passed by him, heading to the counter to retrieve the earnings.

Tyler then approached Hector as Emily left the room. "I'm planning on spending the rest of the day here, crafting," he announced, his tone indicating his determination.

Hector looked at Tyler, his eyebrows raised in surprise. He then took another sword to clean, the metal reflecting the light of the workshop. The rhythmic scrape of the cloth against the steel filled the air.

Hector, his focus now on his cleaning, looked at Tyler and said, "So, you're not going hunting this time again?" His voice held a hint of curiosity.

Tyler responded, "No. I'm planning on making a lot of weapons to sell here." He surveyed the crafting room, his gaze sweeping across the familiar space. He noticed the aged weapons hanging on the walls, a testament to Hector's craft, as well as the displays of shields and armor. "There's one problem though, I don't know if there's enough space to show them all."

Hector paused his cleaning, his brow furrowing in thought, then responded, "That won't be a problem. You see, each and every customer that walks through that door, you shall show them some of your materials. You just simply have to get it out of your inventory, and if you want to leave, you're just going to have to leave the weapons and armor that you want me to sell. Of course, if there are a lot, you're going to have to leave with some. You can leave behind those that I am able to hang and sell, or those that I am able to keep here in the crafting room. Of course, there is little space because I have crafted a lot of items, as I have been crafting every day this week."

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Tyler nodded in understanding, processing the information. "Right, well, I shall start crafting then." He looked around the room again, his eyes searching for a suitable place to begin. He spotted a wooden bench in the corner, near the back door, the same exit he used to throw away any metal scraps. He moved towards the bench, his movements purposeful, and sat down.

As soon as he settled, Emily returned, her footsteps echoing in the room. She carried a small stack of gold coins. She approached Tyler and, with a touch of apology in her voice, said, "Sorry, I couldn't find any more pouches for the gold." She then turned to Hector and said, "Sir, we ran out of pouches for coins."

Hector looked at Emily, his eyes twinkling with amusement, and said, "We ran out of pouches?"

Emily replied, "Yes."

Hector chuckled a bit, a low rumble in his chest, and stated, "That rarely happens. That means we've been bringing in a lot of coins lately." He paused, then asked, "You know where they're sold, right?"

Emily answered, "Yes, I know where they sell them. Do you want me to go buy some?"

Hector said, "Yes, grab some silver, enough to buy 20 more pouches."

Emily then replied, "Yes, sir." And then she turned to Tyler, holding out her hand with the gold coins, and said, "Here,"

Tyler looked at the gold coins in Emily's hands, the light catching the golden surfaces. As he did, the coins shimmered with a faint blue light and then vanished, disappearing into his inventory. Emily was a bit surprised by this, but her surprise was lessened from the first time she saw him use this unusual ability.

Tyler then said, "Thanks," with a small smile, his eyes meeting hers.

Emily, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks, looked at Tyler and said, "R-right, I'm going to buy the pouches now," and then exited the room, moving quickly to the counter to retrieve the silver coins needed to buy the pouches.

Tyler sighed softly, the sound barely audible. *I got more gold coins, that would make it about 40, maybe I have 39, who knows, but to think I really have that many gold coins in a day? And some aren't from hunting at all.* He smiled, a hint of pride in his own progress. *I can make a lot of money from hunting and crafting and selling.*

The system panel appeared before him, displaying his inventory in a clear, organized fashion. He scrolled through the inventory mentally, the icons of various materials and their associated quantities visible. He then began to mentally decide which item he would craft first, the anticipation of creating something new filling him.

Tyler then said, "Right," slightly tapping his fist into his open palm, the gesture conveying a sense of determination. Suddenly, his system panel, with its familiar display, was replaced by another, showcasing the recipes for the Silent Ring, the image clear and well-defined. He examined the recipe, his thoughts now focused. *I think I need to introduce accessories to these people.* He pondered the potential ramifications of this decision. *I wonder what's going to happen when I do that. Of course, I need to give permission for the accessories to take effect. I'll do that right after I sell it to them, but these people don't even know anything about accessories. Would they even believe me if I tell them?*

He sighed, a sound of resignation. "We'll just see how it goes." Then, speaking aloud, he commanded, "System, craft five Silent Rings."

The system responded instantly, a new panel appearing, a text hovering over the current one. It displayed: Craft Silent Ring? Yes/No.

Tyler mentally selected "Yes," the confirmation immediate. All the system panels vanished, disappearing from view, except for his inventory. A new panel, a circular loading bar, with the word Crafting emblazoned upon it, appeared, hovering over the inventory. The bar filled rapidly, displaying the progress of the action. Then, with a satisfying finality, it was complete. The bar vanished, replaced by a panel that declared: **Crafting Successful.**

Tyler thought to himself, *That was fast, must be because they're pretty small items.* He opened his palm, anticipation building. Suddenly, five Silent Rings materialized in his open palm. They were circular, each one a testament to the system's efficiency. Each ring presented a unique display of mixed colors, blended in a way that created a captivating visual effect. Each ring held a medley of hues, none precisely the same. When the morning sunlight struck their surfaces, the light was caught and scattered, causing the colors to shimmer and dance. The interplay of light and the diverse combinations of colors produced a vibrant, shifting display, a beautiful array on his hand. Even Tyler, accustomed to the wonders of the system, found himself captivated by their beauty.

Tyler then muttered under his breath, "They look so pretty," his voice barely audible. "These colors must be because of the feathers from the pixels." The thought hung in the air, a curious observation. "I wonder what kind of effect they have," as he thought that the system panel appeared before the rings, the text clear and concise: Silent Rings: Whoever wears this ring won't be affected by the Pixel's skill Sonic Pulse.

Tyler's thoughts immediately shifted to the practical implications of the rings. "Oh, that is great, this is actually awesome, that means a Hunter or anyone who encounters a Pixel won't be affected by the sound, right? There won't be any need to cover your ears anymore, you can simply charge the thing." His excitement was evident in his voice.

Then, another realization struck him. He remembered that, every time a Pixel would use Sonic Pulse, they would use the Hypnotization skill as well. He then thought, "Damn it, there's no way to counter the hypnosis effect. Well, at least the person won't be affected by the Sonic Pulse. They will just need to improvise."

The rings then shimmered, the vibrant colors fading as they disappeared into Tyler's inventory, leaving the space in his palm empty.

Tyler looked up and he saw Hector, with a quiet efficiency, methodically put all the swords he had been cleaning into a large, wooden crate. He lifted the crate, moving it to a wall where there were different crates, each labeled with the type of sword they contained. He then realized that Hector hadn't even noticed what he was doing, lost in his own routine.

Tyler returned to what he was doing, his focus now on his crafting plan. He slowly stood up, the wooden bench creaking slightly under his weight. He then paused, his thoughts shifting. *I almost forgot... I don't have any metal. I'm gonna need iron, steel, and silver to craft what I need to craft. I have some gold, but...* He trailed off, the realization a minor setback. He looked out the back door, the morning light beckoning. He then opened the door, the crafting room air mixing with the freshness of the outside.

Hector looked at Tyler and said, "Where are you going?"

Tyler responded, "Oh, I'm just going to take the scrap metals. You still throw them outside, right?"

Hector replied, "Yeah, I forgot you can reuse those. Yeah, you'll find them outside."

Tyler said, "All right," and then walked out the door, the morning air washing over him. He went outside and saw lots of scrap metals thrown in a pit. He surveyed the area, the discarded metal glinting in the sunlight, and thought to himself, *You know, this isn't safe at all. He should find some other way of disposing them, not throwing them in a pit. If someone fell in here, I can only imagine.* He shook his head, a touch of concern in his expression.

Tyler looked at the scrap metals inside the pit. There were pieces of iron, copper, silver, and zinc, a jumbled collection of different metals. Then, with a subtle shimmer, they all vanished, disappearing into his inventory.

He then went back inside, closed the door, and sat back down on the wooden bench, his posture relaxed, his mind focused. Hector, glancing over, asked, "What are you crafting?"

Tyler replied, "Hmm, I haven't decided yet. I'm thinking of crafting weapons and armor today. I want to craft accessories too."

Hector raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued, and said, "Accessories?"

Tyler answered, "Yeah, accessories. Necklaces, rings, things like that." He paused, then added, "Accessories, but mine grant effects."

Hector's expression changed, now one of genuine interest. "What do you mean, exactly?"

Tyler stood up, his energy shifting, and explained to Hector all about his accessory crafting abilities, outlining the specific effects that each item could provide. He spoke with enthusiasm and clarity, illustrating the potential of his creations. Hector listened intently, his gaze fixed on Tyler, absorbing the information. He was clearly surprised. He hadn't considered the possibility of such an ability. Hector knew that some armor had some type of effects, based on the monsters they were crafted from.

He knew of basic armor effects, such as those that rendered the wearer invulnerable to fire or cold, or weapons that could *inflict poison*, or weapons that had a *burning effect*. But rings or necklaces that could possess such powers were entirely new to him. However, the way Tyler explained it, made it sound entirely possible, especially considering Tyler's unusual abilities.

Hector nodded his head, his hand resting on his chin as he considered Tyler's words. "I understand. I get it now. And you say you have a problem with getting them to buy it? They'd actually have to test it out first." He paused, then put his hands on his waist and continued, "To be honest, it will be harder to sell ones like that ring because you'd need hard proof for them to actually believe it. And it's not like we can just bring a Pixel around here. Those kinds of items are going to be hard to sell. But the ones that give an effect in different ways... those are going to be easier. It's easy to make a person wear an accessory to just test it out before they buy, isn't it?"

Tyler then said, "Yeah, I guess."

Hector then offered his insight. "How about this? How about you sell accessories that don't need a specific situation to have a kind of effect? That way, people will know more about your accessories and believe them. News about this kind of thing will spread, and people will start to believe it. That way, it will become a little bit easier to sell accessories like that ring."

Tyler's face lit up, a smile spreading across his features. "Yeah, yeah, you're right. I have to sell those types of accessories first." The idea was a sound one, building trust and establishing the validity of his craft.

Hector then said, "Do you have those type of accessories?"

Tyler replied, "No, I don't have any. In fact, I want to craft some right now." He said as he sat back on the bench, the system inventory panel appearing before him, shimmering with a faint blue light. Of course, the panel was totally invisible to Hector.

Hector crossed his arms and thought, *This is totally bizarre. Is he really crafting right now? It looks like he's just staring into thin air and not doing anything. Someone might actually think he's deep in thought, or lost his mind.* He continued to ponder, *But he said he can actually see something called a system, or whatever. This kid is really the strangest person I've ever met.* Hector smiled a little bit and continued to think, *But I'm actually glad I met him.* He then decided, *Lemme give him some space to work.* Hector said as he went to the counter, exiting the room.

Tyler's attention turned to Hector as he saw him leave. He looked at the inventory again and thought, *Right, I have enough iron and slime cores to make the bashing hammer and some other weapons I used to use.*

Tyler then muttered, "System, craft two Bashing Hammers."

Immediately, the system panel shifted, indicating "Crafting." The loading bar appeared, displaying the progress of the task. The crafting was complete, and the two hammers were ready. Tyler did not bother summoning them to see what they looked like. He immediately said, "System, craft two iron axes."

The system, with its familiar speed, crafted the iron axes. Then, he commanded, "System, craft two Gloom Armors," and the system went to work.

Tyler continued to craft, his focus intense. Then, he noticed that he ran out of metal. He thought to himself with a sigh, *I should go to that girl to get some more metal. Once I buy them, I'll come back and craft some more.*

Tyler then stood up, his movements purposeful. He walked out of the crafting room, heading towards the shop's main area. He saw Hector standing behind the counter, a simple wooden cup in his hand. Hector was drinking some water, his gaze distant.

Tyler said, "I'm heading out to buy some iron. I'm coming back."

Hector replied, "Okay," and continued to drink the water.

As soon as Tyler was exiting the door, he bumped into Emily. Their chests collided with a slight thud. Emily stumbled back, and Tyler reacted instantly, his arms reaching out and wrapping around her waist to steady her before she could fall.

Emily was surprised, her gaze instantly met Tyler's, and she immediately stood up straight, taking a step back from Tyler. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. I should have watched where I was going," she said, her voice laced with a mix of surprise and embarrassment.

Tyler then said, "No, it's okay. I should be the one apologizing. Are you alright?"

Emily then said, "Oh, I'm okay."

Tyler said, "That's good, I wouldn't want you to be hurt. Anyways, I'm going to buy some iron. I'll be back in a bit," he said, and immediately walked away from her, his pace quickening.

Emily watched Tyler go, a small sigh escaping her lips. She held a small bag, the contents of which were full of pouches. She then went inside the shop, leaving Tyler to his thoughts, meanwhile, Tyler thought to himself, *That was weird. I should have watched where I was going. I might have actually hurt her.*

Tyler continued to walk, his thoughts now drifting back to Rebecca and *why she left.* He remembered their encounter, and the abrupt nature of her departure. *Can't believe a person would just leave like that just after you help them.* Doubt crept into his mind. *Is the story about her family even true?* He sighed again, the sound carrying a note of frustration and regret. He muttered under his breath, *I wouldn't even know that. I really have to stop trusting random people.*

Meanwhile, unknown to Tyler... he did not know the full story. He didn't know why Rebecca left. He didn't know her current location. The truth, was still a hidden piece of the puzzle, remained obscured.